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The contents of this website, including written text, photos, and artwork are the creative and intellectual property of LK Ludwig. No portion of LK Ludwig’s photographs, works, or writings may be copied, reproduced in any way, re-blogged, or downloaded without prior explicit permission. Please don't steal my work. You are a creative being capable of originality.

As a bookbinder, I love learning new sewings, but I also love riffing on sewings I already know. The process is like solving a puzzle. First, I have to examine the way the stitches from a particular sewing duck and weave to look the way it does yet maintain the tension that holds the whole book together, and then, I set to work on figuring out how to alter the original sewing and still end up with a book. Sometimes, I combine parts from two different sewings to make a new-to-me interpretation. I'm a pretty geeky person bookbinder.

But, for all my geekiness, I'm also a pretty irreverent bookbinder. I've read those rules in those formal books on bookbinding, and, mostly, I chuck them out. Thinking of having to be so careful, of having to "follow the rules" made me anxious, so I stopped following the rules. I wanted to see what would happen.

Would my books fall apart? Would they be grotesque? Does it really matter if I am not measuring down to 1/64"? Can't I just use Elmer's? What if all I have is a soup spoon and a thumbtack, and not a bone folder and an awl? (the answers- nope, nope, nope, yep, and yep, you can make a book just fine.)

I once entertained a class by making a book without using a ruler. With so many bookbinders worshiping the God of Precision at the Altar of Expensive Tools, how did I get to be such a heretic?

Way back when, hmm, eighteen years ago or so, I took my first bookbinding class and fell hard for the idea I could make a book. Given that I loved books with my whole bookwormy heart, and had serious crushes on the feel of nice paper and the smell of paste, I was destined to be hooked! I took more bookbinding classes over the next couple of years, progressively learning more complicated sewings.

In one particular class, about fifteen years ago, I was really lost. Somewhere in the beginning, I missed some incredibly important bit, and just couldn't figure out what was I was doing wrong. I was so lost I cried! And, I wasn't the only one reduced to tears that day. The teacher, widely admired and kinda famous, was stern, rigid, and intimidating. My fellow students and I were paying big money to take a class where we were scolded, patronized, belittled, not allowed to talk to the people sitting next to us, not allowed to ask questions or for help, and either kept up with the pace of the instruction or failed. The instructor actually used the phrase, "sink or swim" to describe the class during the introduction.

Luckily, at lunch, some friends helped me figure out what I was doing wrong, and I made it through the class.

The class structure wasn't that uncommon; I had taken similar bookbinding classes from other instructors. This "boot camp" mentality was an accepted norm. There was, and still is, a whole faction of people teaching bookbinding this way- heavy on the rules and low on encouragement.

After that experience, I taught myself by working through the bindings in various books. Instead of looking at some of those complex diagrams for sewing bindings and feeling my eyes glaze over (oh, all those little numbers and arrows, and aaaaaarghhhh...), I'd sit down with needle and thread, and work my way through those squirrelly diagrams, one little number at a time. Those complicated diagrams began to make a lot more sense, and I made a lot of books. I also learned a lot about the "rules."

I learned which "rules" were actually structurally important, which "rules" were icing-on-the-cake rules (ones that improve the appearance of your finished book), which "rules" were really meant for rebinding rare texts to preserve them for all eternity, and which "rules" were just added by anal-retentive, and occasionally sadistic, instructors. (Just kidding! Well, about the sadism, not kidding about the anal-retentiveness.) I learned that I could alter the instructions for a sewing and still have a book at the end.

Maybe more importantly, I found a way of approaching bookbinding that has continued to keep the joy and pleasure in the process of making books. The process of learning and experimenting became play. While a finished book is indeed a lovely thing, enjoying the process of making that lovely thing is good for my soul!

02/09/2015

Finally, my computer, my beloved late 2009 MacBook, is repaired! I'd been limping my laptop along since late summer, and just before Christmas, it died. I certainly couldn't afford a new MacBook, and it turned out, I couldn't afford to take it in to be repaired either!

So, I did the repairs myself! I researched what I needed to do to diagnose the problems, how to do the repairs, what to buy, and where to buy it. I ordered what I needed to do the repairs, and once everything arrived, I installed a new hard drive, RAM, fan, and "non-user-replaceable" battery! Very proud of myself, over here!

(While the Book Of The Month classes won't be covering surface treatments for paper, I do offer a wonderful class that covers a number of page surface treatments to use to prep papers for use in your journals, as well as two of my go-to bookbinding methods. (info is on my Painted, Patterend, Printed workshop on my main Online Workshops page.)

Pages can be added and removed.

perfect for traveling- whether to work, an art retreat, a weekend away, or on vacation.

load with pages, and work where ever you are.

pages can be removed and bound into a separate book later.

add pages as you go using found materials

Drop the journal in your bag and go!

Storage pouches and pockets can be attached so you can bring along supplies and collect ephemera! (Click through the images below to take a look at the pockets & pouches.)

This class goes live on August 28. Posts will go up regularly until the instructions for the journal are complete and bonus content is posted.

Please be sure to check out the class policies section on my Online Workshops page for further details.

To purchase "The Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Journal: a perpetual, portable journal" class for $15, click on the button below to be redirected to Paypal. You do not need to have or create a Paypal account inorder to use Paypal to make this purchase.

This is one of the books I made as part of the class process. I always make my own books with the binding as I create the videos and instructions for the class, rather than just work with already finished pieces and written steps. This allows me to add in little tips and tricks as I go- things like how to repair a signature or folio cut by tightening the thread, or how to make a bit of trim more sturdy so it can be used as a support for binding. I love doing that, because those little tidbits can really help, and sharing them makes creating the class even more fun!

You will be able to sign up for the various Book of the Month Bookbinding classes at any time. The classes will remain available and registration won't be limited to just that month.

In other words, registration for April's class (the book you see above) will remain open! And, the cost of the class is only $15!

Also, your class access isn't limited; you will continue to be able to access the class forever! (or as close to forever as possible! Although, living forever doesn't sound too bad!)

I've been hard at work getting ready to start creating May's class! Here are some unbound books- pages and covers at the ready!

Late last summer, some enterprising birds made a nest on top of our garage door opening mechanism. After a few months, Joe removed it, and placed it on a shelf near the door, thinking the littlest little would find it fascinating.

Last week, a pair of robins decided it was the perfect location to start a family. This is crazy because the garage has a lot of foot traffic in and out, and we park right beside where the nest is placed! We also use the power tools located in that garage, and Sunny has a little kitchen play space in there, as well. I spent a good bit of time in that garage last weekend, using the circular saw and some other rather noisy tools! There was a pack of rambunctious 7 year-olds playing house and doing a great deal of "cooking" and tending to loudly wailing baby dolls. I have NO idea why these birds decided this would be a good nest, other than they didn't have to build it!

One day last week, as I went to get into my car, a robin flew out of the garage, zipping right by my head. When I looked the direction from where this bird came, I saw the nest, and thought, "Oh, no! Not there!" I climbed up on a crate and gently stuck my hand into the nest, and felt the smooth eggs.

The eggs gestate for 12-14 days, and then of course, there will be baby birds... We cannot avoid this space for over a month!! I feel badly, but either they will have to adapt to our presence or abandon the nest. On the upside, there is no shortage of robins around here, and certainly not in our yard, where I can see three other occupied nests in the backyard alone. Robins typically lay two to three clutches of eggs a season, and there are usually four eggs in each clutch.

Nevercenter also has a free, 15-day trial version, so you can check it out before purchasing.

I'm not affiliated with Nevercenter in any way. I've purchased their apps for my computer, iPhone and iPad. The original Camerabag app was one of my favorite iPhone apps when I started shooting with an iPhone in 2009. It was the third app I purchased, and a version of CameraBag has been on my phone ever since! Their apps have been winning awards for years.

The computer version is available for Mac & Windows (PC) systems. It offers 150 filters, and the ability to create and share your own, as well as access the shared filters of other users. There are a number of great features, but the best part is you can keep it simple! You can just apply their filters, and play with your photos! Or, if you are interested, you can go in-depth with creating filters and using the photo editing tools. The computer version also supports the use of RAW image files, if you shoot your images in that format.

In my opinions, one of the best thing about Nevercenter's products is the information they include in the "Support" section of their website. I took a quick screenshot of their website from my phone. You can see they have tutorials and videos for whatever level of experience you have using these sorts of applications. I clicked on "Getting Started with..." which led me to a page that even explained how to open the app.

I had CameraBag 1.5 on my laptop. When Nevercenter updated to 2.0, the update was so huge, and offered so much more, you had to purchase the update. It wasn't expensive, but I didn't want to spend the money at the time. When I finally wanted to update, the offer had expired. I didn't want to pay $20 for the new version, so I just kept the old, which of course, I didn't use as much.

But, $8?! Heck, yeah! That's a hella deal! (it's what? 60% off?) I thought I'd pass the info along to all of you, just in case you might find $8, for a terrific piece of photo software, appealing!

If you are using a Mac, then you already know about the Mac App Store. You can buy it there for $7.99 using your iTunes account. If you are PC/Windows, you can buy it directly from Nevercenter, and use the sale code SPRINGSALE when you check out. You can pay via credit/debit or Paypal. I used the Mac App Store. What? It's a penny cheaper there! Just kidding, using the Mac App Store was easier - just needed to enter my iTunes password instead of entering all my address and billing info into the Nevercenter site checkout form. (yes, I AM that lazy.)

04/16/2014

The Book Of The Month Bookbinding Online Class Series!

Starting with April, I'll be offering a new online bookbinding class each month!

I love teaching bookbinding! I'm a mellow, easy-going, patient bookbinder and instructor. I make sure you understand the stitch before you begin sewing your book! You'll practice the sewing, and create a sewing "sampler" which will become a wonderful reference tool. I keep my samplers in a binder, so when I need to choose a binding to use for a new journal, I have a collection of 3-d visual references of bindings to peruse!

Each class will cover a binding technique I have not taught on line before! Focused specifically on making a handmade book, this class will cover the steps needed to make the book using that month's binding from start to finish.

Each Book Of The Month class will be available to purchase separately and/or individually. The Book Of The Month classes aren't sold as a subscription, so you are able to choose what bookbinding class you wish to take. As the months go by, the classes from each month will remain available to purchase.

While the Book Of The Month classes won't be covering surface treatments for paper, I do offer a wonderful class that covers a number of page surface treatments to use to prep papers for use in your journals. It also covers two of my favorite binding techniques. (info is on my online workshops main page under Painted, Patterned, Printed Journals)

April's class - The BIG TIME BOOK!

Cost: $15

Check out the book and it's binding in the video below:

This fun journal lies flat when opened, making it easy to work in!

Make your journal any size you like.

The class will cover the sewing and assembly for this book, along with how to fold your papers to create the various flaps and fold-outs for your pages. Using videos, photographs, and written instructions, the class guides you step-by-step through the binding process, including practicing the stitches before sewing the book, and creating your sewing stitch sampler. All bookbinding terms are clearly explained.

The class website will open on April 24, 2014, and remain posted. Your access is not time-limited.

You can use any sturdy, heavier paper of your choosing for your pages. Use a mix of papers, if you like. Covers can be made from a variety of materials, including book board, recycled old book covers, or canvas boards. The supply list is fairly short and will be emailed to you with your registration conformation and class access information.

04/14/2014

I like using cheap composition books for various writing, research, and class planning projects. What this has meant is when I've needed to write something down, or look up something, I've had to sift through a pile of notebooks to find the correct one. You know how that went, right?

So, I pulled the covers off of the composition books I was using and extras I had on hand, and bound them into two journals. The composition books became the signatures of the journals. (the sections/stacks of folded papers are called signatures, individual folded papers are called folios.)

I wanted to make a smaller journal of this style, and decided this would be a great chance to create a tutorial for those of you who might want an inexpensive, lined-paper journal.

This will be a 3-part tutorial.

The tutorial format is predominantly photos & text, with one video (of the sewing for the book), which is different than my typical bookbinding classes. I really wanted to be able to post this tutorial, and that meant working on it over the weekend with house full of children at home. This binding is very easy, which means a tutorial with mainly written instructions and photographs (except for the sewing video!) will work quite well.